Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell and Josh Anderson each scored two goals as Columbus swamped Montreal 10-0, matching the biggest loss in the Canadiens' storied history and breaking the Blue Jackets' franchise record for goals in a game.

It was the NHL's first 10-0 loss since the Flames beat the Lightning 10-0 on Jan. 2, 1996, and it's tied for the worst loss in the league since the Flames fell 11-0 to the Canucks on March 1, 1992. The Penguins also beat the Lightning 10-0 in the 1995-96 season, and the Flames beat the Senators 10-0 in 1994.

The Canadiens lost 10-0 for the fourth time and the first since 1942 against the Red Wings.

"I don't think you're going forget one like that," Montreal wing Brendan Gallagher said. "We got taught a lesson here (Friday). We had it coming. Last game we were sloppy; we got away with it. (Friday) we didn't."

In goal for the entire game for Montreal was Al Montoya, who started the first of back-to-back games while Carey Price rested for Saturday's matchup with the Flyers. Montoya is the first goalie to allow 10 goals in a game since the Rangers' Steve Valiquette against the Stars on Feb. 6, 2009, and the first Canadiens goalie to do it since Andre Racicot against the Rangers on Dec. 13, 1992.

Montoya had 30 saves. The veteran backup, signed in the offseason, had a 1.47 goal-against average and .955 save percentage in four games going into Friday.

"We let (Montoya) out to dry," captain Max Pacioretty said. "That's what's frustrating. We pride ourselves on being such a close group, and to leave our goalie out to dry like that is very frustrating."

After surrendering 13 goals in 10 games before Friday, Montreal gave up eight to Columbus in the first two periods, half of them on power plays. Sixteen Columbus players picked up at least one point.

Despite their 9-0-1 star, Therrien said the coaching staff could see a letdown coming "like a big curve ball."

"First of all, it was really tough to leave (Montoya) in there. And we understand," said Therrien, adding that goalie coach Stephane Waite talked to Montoya during the second intermission. "That was a really tough decision to make."

Coach John Tortorella's Blue Jackets are the first team to score 10 goals in a regular-season game since March 30, 2011, when the Blues beat the Red Wings 10-3. They set a team record for goals in a game, breaking the mark of eight. Sixteen Columbus players picked up at least one point.

Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell and Josh Anderson each scored two goals. The Blue Jackets are the first team to have four players each score multiple goals in a game since the Flames against the Sharks on Feb. 10, 1993, Elias Sports said.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 30 saves.

"You've been on the other side where everything is not going right," Foligno said. "It just seemed to be the case (Friday) where we were just getting every bounce. But we were earning it, too. I'm not going to take away from our game, either. We did a lot of good things. But I've never been up by 10 in my entire career."

The record output was no big deal to Tortorella.

"All it is one tick in the win column and one tick in the loss column," he said.